Can Anyone Help Calm My Fears?

Hi everyone,

For the past two weeks, I have been in a medical nightmare.  My problem started out of the blue when I noticed that I was urinating a lot.  My immediate thought was diabetes, and I was relieved when my blood sugar tested at 83.  I started getting very weak and nauseated.   Even though I should have known better, I ran to the internet to look up my symptoms.  I had many symptoms of a urinary tract infection.  I am a hypochrondria with high anxiety and great fears of having a chronic illness.  I will try any home remedy before going to the doctor.

Well I finally went to see a doctor after 5 days.  They ran some urine tests and I checked out fine.  I was given 5 day supply of antibiotics.  I kept on reading online which did nothing to reassure me.  Instead it only increased my fear that I have something wrong with my kidneys.  The weakness and nausea went away, but my body continued to force me to urinate every 30 minutes to an hour.  Very abnormal for me.

I've been trying to tell myself that it is just hypochrondriac fear anxiety causing this problem.  For one thing, the weakness did go away.  I don't have any of the other scary symptoms like dark urine, and I had full testing down on my kidneys two years ago and they were in good shape then.  But my fear returned on Sunday when I suddenly had a dizzy spell and instant headache.  Then today, I noticed a weird burning feeling in my feet.  Of course, both are freaking signs of kidney disease!!

So can anxiety really be causing this?  Could it cause me to have to urinate so frequently?  It scares me that my body has been so persistent with these frequent urges.  My only relief is going to sleep, and then I have to get up once or twice.  Please help.

[ILADVOCATE]

Having fear of unknown illnesses should not stop you from looking up what's wrong when you feel sick. Just don't look things up as a habit. And don't assume what you have is rare or terrifying. As for urinating frequently it can happen from some medications. But if it happenned suddenly that can be a urinary track infection. I've had those before and they are nothing scary. But a urologist needs to follow up and prescribe a full round of antibiotics. Don't avoid the doctor and rely on natural remedies. If you taking any tell the doctor what they are and if they are unsafe stop them. If you do have any form of prostatitis (which I have had, also very standard and treatable) saw palmetto can be helpful but a doctor has to diagnose it and authorize you taking it (my urologist did). And you might want to post more about the specific symptoms in the specific ask a doctor forum if you want to get an informed answer.

[birdie0907]

My husband's doc told him to take trinovin (red clover) tablets along with the saw palmetto. Zellers sells trinovin in Canada, but no one else as far as we know, so you might have to hunt around for it. You can take either alone if you want.
He has taken both for several years and it helps as he doesn't have to get up in the night any more.

[Paxiled]

This sounds odd -- you say they found nothing wrong, but gave you antibiotics anyway?  Why, just for fun?  Second, how old are you and are you male?  Asking because anytime they check for urinary problems in a male older than 40 they're going to check the prostate for enlargement -- did they?  (You'd know.  Just think rubber glove).  Waking in the night to go is classic prostate symptom.  Just ask any of us older men, a benign enlarged prostate is pretty much 100% if you live long enough.  But any routine examination of a urinary problem should have checked this, so this is confusing.

Hey Birdie, don't think trinovin is any different than any standardized red clover.  Lots of companies sell it.  Didn't know it had anything to do with prostate, though -- it's usually used for blood problems.  Saw palmetto is good, a combination of herbs is better, plus often zinc.  There are many good formulas out there, but, as with all medicine, there's no guarantee it will work.  And yes, anxiety can cause frequent urination.  Diarrhea, too.  All kinds of things.  But usually only when it's particularly intense, not all the time.  

[txdave35]

From what I understood, they first did a quick urine test that came back negative.  Then he ordered a urine culture which takes a few days for the results.  He didn't see any harm in me taking Cipro in the meantime just in case there was an infection.  The culture came back negative as well.

I did ask him about the prostrate, but he said I was too young to have problems.  I am 35.  I wished I had persisted in having it checked anyways.  I am unable to get health insurance so this little visit cost me 100 bucks.

[birdie0907]

I know trinovin is red clover, but red clover is like a grass. How do you take that stuff? My hubby tried it as a tea before he heard of trinovin, but didn't have a recipe so didn't like it.

All the trinovin package use mentions is prostrate so no blood value. That must be why doc suggested trinovin rather than the blood ones Paxiled mentions. Googling trinovin brings up lots of sellers as you mention, but only Zellers carried it in Canada.

I wonder since Dave had to pay $100, if there is motivation on doc's part to overprescribe to save you another $100 trip back.

[ILADVOCATE]

That's not true you are too young to have prostate trouble. I have chronic prostatis from all the anti-cholingeric side effects pills I needed. Any urologist would rule that out. As for healthcare coverage if you are not working you could eligible for Medicaid and if you are there is the Medicaid Buy in for Working People with Disabilities. You could find out more about coverage options at your local independent living center. There's one in every county of every state. Here's a list:
http://www.ilru.org/html/publications/directory/index.html

[txdave35]

Thanks guys.  My doctor wants to run blood tests on me tomorrow.  By Friday, I should know if there is something wrong with my kidneys.  Gosh, I will be such a nervous wreck until I get the results.  I'll feel like my life is over if it is my kidneys.  Please send any prayers or good thoughts my way.  Still urinating once an hour. :(

[birdie0907]

Lots of 35 year olds urinate more than they want, due to aging. Until kidneys are identified as a problem, try to focus on the other.

[txdave35]

Well I had a good day yesterday.  I was able to go up to 3 hours without urinating, and I slept 6 hours last night.

Today, I was a nervous wreck awaiting the results of my blood tests.  I called the doctor's office, and of course, you have to leave a message. Finally after 5 hours of waiting, they called me with the results.  My kidneys are fine!  I am so relieved, and I can stop thinking about kidney disease.

Unfortunately, the frequent urination is still continuing so my battle isnt over.